Dual fuel selector switch

ABSTRACT

A fuel selector for use with a dual fuel generator includes a selector plate, a first fuel valve assembly positioned adjacent the selector plate and actuatable between an ON position and an OFF position to selectively control a first fuel flow to an engine of the dual fuel generator, and a second fuel valve assembly positioned adjacent the selector plate and actuatable between an ON position and an OFF position to selectively control a second fuel flow to the engine of the dual fuel generator. A selector switch coupled to the selector plate is linearly translatable from a first position to a second position, so as to enable positioning of only one of the first fuel valve assembly and the second fuel valve assembly in the ON position at a given time, such that the first and second fuel valve assemblies cannot be in the ON position concurrently.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to dual fuel generatorsand, more particularly, to a selector switch for use on a dual fuelgenerator that is configured to ensure that only one type of fuel may bein use at a given time in the generator.

Engine-driven, electrical generators are used in a wide variety ofapplications. Typically, an electrical generator utilizes a singledriving engine directly coupled to a generator or alternator through acommon shaft. Upon activation of the generator, a fuel and air mixtureis provided to the combustion chambers of corresponding cylinders of theengine. The fuel mixture in each combustion chamber is ignited causingan explosion within the cylinders. The explosive forces within thecombustion chambers in the cylinders cause linear motion of the pistonswithin their corresponding cylinders. The linear motion of the pistonsis converted into rotational motion by a crankshaft that, in turn,drives the alternator. As is conventional, the driven alternatorgenerates electrical power.

Certain generators are defined as “dual fuel” generators that include anengine having the ability to be fueled with either of two fuels, such aseither gasoline or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), for example. These“dual fuel” engines may selectively operate on gasoline or LPG asdesired and controlled by an operator, such as being operated onLPG/gasoline for a first period of operation and selectively switchingover to the other of LPG/gasoline for another period of operation, withsuch a switching of fuels being controlled as desired by an operator.Typical dual fuel generators utilize separate valves for each fuel type,such as an LPG valve and a gasoline valve, to control flow of therespective fuels to the engine. While the existence of two separatevalves allows one fuel type to have its valve “on” while the other hasits valve “off,” there is nothing to prevent both valves from being “on”at the same time. As such, it is possible for both valves to be in the“on” position, which can lead to a potentially unsafe conditionresulting from the mixture of the fuels.

Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a dual fuel generator with aselector switch that would prohibit the mixing of two differing types offuels. It would further be desirable for such a selector switch toinhibit positioning/actuation of the valves in such a manner that thevalve for a first fuel source is prevented from being “on” when thevalve for a second fuel source is “on”, and vice versa.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a fuel selector for usewith a dual fuel generator includes a selector plate, a first fuel valveassembly positioned adjacent the selector plate and actuatable betweenan ON position and an OFF position to selectively control a first fuelflow to an engine of the dual fuel generator, and a second fuel valveassembly positioned adjacent the selector plate and actuatable betweenan ON position and an OFF position to selectively control a second fuelflow to the engine of the dual fuel generator. The fuel selector alsoincludes a selector switch coupled to the selector plate so as to belinearly translatable from a first position to a second position,wherein translation of the selector switch between the first and secondpositions enables positioning of only one of the first fuel valveassembly and the second fuel valve assembly in the ON position at agiven time, such that the first and second fuel valve assemblies cannotbe in the ON position concurrently.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method ofcontrolling fuel flow in a dual fuel generator includes providing afirst fuel valve assembly to control fuel flow from a first fuel sourceto an internal combustion engine of the dual fuel generator, the firstfuel valve assembly including a first fuel valve handle movable betweenan ON position and an OFF position to control fuel flow from the firstfuel source to the internal combustion engine. The method also includesproviding a second fuel valve assembly to control fuel flow from asecond fuel source to the internal combustion engine of the dual fuelgenerator, the second fuel valve assembly including a second fuel valvehandle movable between an ON position and an OFF position to controlfuel flow from the second fuel source to the internal combustion engine.The method further includes providing a fuel selector switch adjacentthe first fuel valve assembly and the second fuel valve assembly suchthat the fuel selector switch is translatable to a first position and asection position, wherein the fuel selector switch is translatablebetween the first position and the section position to selectivelyinhibit actuation of the first fuel valve handle and the second fuelvalve handle, so as to prevent a simultaneous flow of fuels from thefirst and second fuel sources to the internal combustion engine.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a dual fuelgenerator includes a first fuel source, a second fuel source, and aninternal combustion engine coupled to the first fuel source and thesecond fuel source to selectively receive fuel therefrom. The dual fuelgenerator also includes a fuel selector configured to control a flow offuel from the first and second fuel sources to the internal combustionengine, with the fuel selector comprising a first fuel valve assemblyincluding a first fuel valve and a first fuel valve handle that isactuatable between an open position and a closed position to selectivelyopen and close the first fuel valve, a second fuel valve assemblyincluding a second fuel valve and a second fuel valve handle that isactuatable between an open position and a closed position to selectivelyopen and close the second fuel valve, a selector plate having the firstfuel valve assembly and the second fuel valve assembly coupled to afront side thereof, and a selector switch slideably coupled to theselector plate so as to be movable from a first position to a secondposition. Positioning of the selector switch in the first positioncauses the selector switch to cover the second fuel valve handle so asto prevent the second fuel valve handle from moving to the open positionand positioning of the selector switch in the second position causes theselector switch to cover the first fuel valve handle so as to preventthe first fuel valve handle from moving to the open position.

These and other advantages and features will be more readily understoodfrom the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of theinvention that is provided in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings illustrate embodiments presently contemplated for carryingout the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dual fuel generator, according to anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial view of the dual fuel generator of FIG. 1, accordingto an embodiment of the invention

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a fuel selector for use with thedual fuel generator of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of a selector switch for use with thefuel selector of FIG. 3, according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the fuel selector of FIG. 3 withthe selector switch in a first position, according to an embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the fuel selector of FIG. 3 withthe selector switch in a second position, according to an embodiment ofthe invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, a dual fuel generator 10 isillustrated, according to an embodiment of the invention—with aperspective view of the generator 10 being shown in FIG. 1 and a moredetailed partial view of the generator 10 being shown in FIG. 2 tofurther illustrate features thereof. Dual fuel generator 10 includes aninternal combustible engine 12 operatively connected to an alternator 14in a conventional manner. The engine 12 includes pistons (not shown)that are slideably received within corresponding cylinders (not shown)thereof, with each cylinder further including an intake valve foradmitting a fuel-air mixture and an exhaust valve for venting exhaustgases following combustion. The fuel-air mixture is provided by acarburetor 16 that includes a movable throttle, with a position of thethrottle regulating the amount of fuel and air admitted into thecylinders and thus the speed and power developed by the engine 12 whenthe air-fuel mixture is ignited to generate reciprocal movement of thepistons. The reciprocal movement of the pistons of engine 12 istranslated to rotational movement by a crankshaft (not shown) that, inturn, drives the alternator 14, so as to generate an electrical outputpower from the generator 10.

As the generator 10 is a dual fuel generator, the engine 12 is designedto use different fuels from either a first fuel source 18 or a secondfuel source 20. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, first fuelsource 18 supplies a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to the engine 12 andsecond fuel source 20 supplies gasoline to the engine 12, with thegenerator 10 selectively operating on LPG or gasoline as desired andcontrolled by an operator, such as for example operating on LPG for afirst period of operation and then switching over to gasoline foranother period of operation. However, it is contemplated that the firstfuel source 18 and/or second fuel source 20 may be other types of fuelsources (e.g., natural gas, biodiesel, etc.), according to additionalembodiments of the invention—and thus the scope of the invention is notmeant to be limited strictly to a gasoline-LPG dual fuel embodiment.

For selectively controlling the flow of gasoline and LPG to the engine12, dual fuel generator 10 includes a fuel selector 22 constructed toprovide for selection of a desired fuel source 18, 20 for supplying fuelto engine 12. The fuel selector 22 not only provides for selection of adesired fuel source 18, 20 for supplying fuel to engine 12, but alsoselectively restricts the selection of a fuel source so as to enable theuse of only one fuel at a time. As a result, fuel from first fuel source18 cannot flow to engine 12 while fuel from second fuel source 20 isflowing to engine 12, and vice versa.

The fuel selector 22 of generator 10 is shown in greater detail in FIGS.3-6 according to an embodiment of the invention. In general, the fuelselector 22 includes a first valve assembly 24, a second valve assembly26, a selector plate 28, a selector switch 30, and a carburetor solenoidswitch 32. These elements of the fuel selector 22 collectively functionto provide for selective control of a fuel flow (of gasoline or LPG) tothe engine 12, with the fuel selector 22 enabling selection of a desiredfuel source 18, to provide a fuel flow therefrom while also inhibitingthe selection of the other fuel source 18, 20 so as to prevent a fuelflow therefrom, thereby enabling only a single fuel to flow to theengine 12 at one time.

Referring first to FIG. 3, a front view of fuel selector 22 is shownwith selector switch 30 removed therefrom, so as to best illustrate theconstruction of the first valve assembly 24 and the second valveassembly 26. The first valve assembly 24 and the second valve assembly26 are attached, respectively, to first fuel source 18 and second fuelsource 20 to selectively control a flow of fuel from the fuel sources tothe engine 12. First valve assembly 24 includes a first fuel valvehandle 34 that is operatively connected to a first fuel valve 36 tocontrol an opening and closing of the first fuel valve. Similarly,second valve assembly 26 includes a second fuel valve handle 38 that isoperatively connected to a second fuel valve 40 to control an openingand closing of the second fuel valve.

Each of the first valve assembly 24 and the second valve assembly 26 aremovable between an ON position and an OFF position to control openingand closing of their respective fuel valve. More specifically, first andsecond fuel valve handles 34, 38 are movable between an ON position andan OFF position, with the fuel valves 36, 40 being open (to enable fuelflow to the engine 12) when their respective fuel valve handle 34, 38 isin the ON position and being closed (to prevent fuel flow to the engine12) when their respective fuel valve handle 34, 38 is in the OFFposition. Thus, when first fuel valve handle 34 is in an ON position,first fuel valve 36 is open and allows the fuel from first fuel source18 to flow to the engine 12, and when second fuel valve handle 38 is inan ON position, second fuel valve 40 is open and allows the fuel fromsecond fuel source 20 to flow to the engine 12.

In the preferred embodiments of the invention, first valve assembly 24and second valve assembly 26 are located adjacent to each other on thesame horizontal plane or parallel horizontal planes. In such anembodiment, first valve assembly 24 is in the ON position when firstfuel valve handle 34 is moved to a vertical orientation/position andfirst valve assembly 24 is in an OFF position when first fuel valvehandle 34 is moved to a horizontal orientation/position. Similarly,second valve assembly 26 is in the ON position when second fuel valvehandle 38 is moved to a vertical orientation/position second valveassembly 26 is in an OFF position when second fuel valve handle 38 ismoved to a horizontal orientation/position. It is recognized, however,that an alternative embodiment of the invention may have first valveassembly 24 and second valve assembly 26 located adjacent to each otheron the same vertical plane or parallel vertical planes. One havingordinary skill in the art would recognize that in such an alternativeembodiment of the invention, first and second valve assemblies 24 wouldbe in the ON position when their respective fuel valve handles 34, 38are horizontal, and would be in the OFF position when their respectivefuel valve handles 34, 38 are vertical.

As shown in FIG. 3, first valve assembly 24 and second valve assembly 26are positioned adjacent to the selector plate 28 of fuel selector 22.The selector plate 28 may be integrally formed as part of a larger outerframe assembly of generator 10 or may be an insert attachable to such aframe assembly. Openings 42 are formed in selector plate 28 so as toaccommodate positioning of the first valve assembly 24 and second valveassembly 26—with the openings 42 enabling positioning of first andsecond fuel valve handles 34, 38 in front of selector plate 28, suchthat they may be actuated by an operator of the generator 10 in order toopen/close their respective valves 36, 40. Selector plate 28 alsoincludes slots or grooves 44 formed therein that are positioned bothabove and below the first and second fuel valve handles 34, 38, with theslots 44 extending generally in a lengthwise fashion along a length ofthe selector plate 28. Each of the slots 44 is configured to receive aprotrusion or flange formed on selector switch 30, such that theselector switch 30 can be slideably coupled to the selector plate28—with the selector switch 30 being translatable in a linear fashion byway of its mating with the slots 44.

Detailed views of the selector switch 30 and of its mating with theselector plate 28 are shown in FIGS. 4-6. Referring first to FIG. 4, thegeneral structure of selector switch 30 is shown according to anexemplary embodiment. Protrusions or flanges 46 are formed on each oftop and bottom surfaces of the selector switch 30 that are configured tomate with the corresponding slots 44 formed in selector plate 28 (FIG.3). The protrusions 46 may be flexible so as to accommodate coupling ofthe selector switch 30 to the selector plate 28. A front surface 48 ofselector switch 30 includes finger-hold depressions 50 formed thereinthat accommodate the fingers of an operator, with the finger-holdsproviding a convenient feature by which the operator can operate (i.e.,slide) the selector switch 30. A back surface 52 of the selector switch30 includes a groove or channel 54 formed therein having a width anddepth sufficient to receive the first and second fuel valve handles 34,38 therein when in their horizontal position (i.e., the OFF position).The groove 54 is further sized and configured such that the first andsecond fuel valve handles 34, 38 will not fit therein when in theirvertical position (i.e., the ON position).

Positioning of the selector switch 30 relative to the selector plate 28and first and second valve assemblies 24, 26 is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.As shown therein, positioning of the first valve assembly 24 and secondvalve assembly 26 adjacent selector plate 28—and on the same horizontalplane—provides for selective positioning of the selector switch 30relative to the fuel valve handles 34, 38 in what are generally referredto hereafter as a first position and a second position 56, 58. Theselector switch 30 is translatable in a horizontal motion—via a slidingmotion within slots 44 of the selector plate 28—from the first position56 (FIG. 5) to the second position 58 (FIG. 6) to selectively restrictactuation of the first and second fuel valve handles 34, 38. As thegroove 54 formed in selector switch 30 is configured such that the firstand second fuel valve handles 34, 38 will not fit therein when in theirvertical position (i.e., the ON position), it is recognized that inorder to translate the selector switch 30 back and forth between thefirst and second positions 56, 58, both of the fuel valve handles 34, 38must be in their horizontal OFF position.

In FIG. 5, selector switch 30 is illustrated in the first position 56.When selector switch 30 is in first position 56, selector switch 30covers second fuel valve handle 38, and groove 54 formed on the backsurface 52 of the fuel selector switch 30 locks second fuel valve handle38 in an OFF position, so as to prohibit the second valve assembly 26from moving to the ON position. Further, when selector switch 30 is infirst position 56, first valve assembly 24 is able to move freelybetween the ON position and the OFF position, with the first fuel valvehandle 34 being actuatable by the operator. In one embodiment of theinvention, when first valve assembly 24 is in the ON position, firstfuel valve handle 34 is in a vertical position and prevents selectorswitch 30 from moving horizontally from first position 56 to secondposition 58.

In operation, when selector switch 30 is moved from second position 58into first position 56, second fuel valve handle 38 slides into thegroove 54 formed in selector switch 30. As a result, when selectorswitch 30 is in first position 56, second fuel valve handle 38 is unableto move, as it is locked in place by groove 54, and second valveassembly 26 is locked in the OFF position, with movement from the OFFposition to the ON position being prohibited.

IN FIG. 6, selector switch 30 is illustrated in the second position 58.When selector switch 30 is in second position 58, selector switch 30covers first fuel valve handle 34, and groove 54 formed on the backsurface 52 of the fuel selector switch 30 locks first fuel valve handle34 in an OFF position, so as to prohibit the first valve assembly 24from moving to the ON position. In addition, when selector switch 30 isin second position 58, second valve assembly 26 is able to freely movebetween the ON position and the OFF position, with the second fuel valvehandle 38 being actuatable by the operator. In one embodiment of theinvention, when second valve assembly 26 is in the ON position, secondfuel valve handle 38 is in a vertical position and prevents selectorswitch 30 from moving horizontally from second position 58 to firstposition 56.

In operation, when selector switch 30 is moved from first position 56into second position 58, first fuel valve handle 34 slides into groove54 formed in selector switch 30. Therefore, when selector switch 30 isin second position 58, first fuel valve handle 34 is unable to move, asit is locked in place by groove 54, and first valve assembly 24 islocked in the OFF position, with movement from the OFF position to theON position being prohibited.

Referring still now to FIG. 6, according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe invention, the fuel selector 22 of generator 10 further comprises acarburetor solenoid switch 32 that is positioned within an opening 60formed in selector plate 28 so as to extend therethrough and is furtherpositioned adjacent second valve assembly 26 (i.e., second fuel valvehandle 38. As solenoid switch 32 is located adjacent to the second valveassembly 26—which is in turn connected to the gasoline fuel source20—selector switch 30 covers and triggers solenoid switch 32 when slidfrom the second position 58 to the first position 56—by depressing thesolenoid switch 32 as it comes in contact therewith. When solenoidswitch 32 is triggered, a carburetor shutoff solenoid operativelyconnected to the solenoid switch 32 is activated and shuts off the flowof gasoline to the carburetor 16 (FIG. 2). In the preferred embodimentof the invention, solenoid switch 32 is a depressible switch, but it iscontemplated that solenoid switch 32 may be another type of switch thatcan be activated via interaction with selector switch 30 or viainteraction with either valve handle 34, 38, so as to activate thecarburetor shutoff solenoid.

Beneficially, the design of the fuel selector 22 and of the selectorswitch 30 described herein prevents differing fuels from two separatefuel sources from flowing to the engine of a dual fuel generator at thesame time. The interaction of the selector switch 30 with the first andsecond fuel valve assemblies 24, 26—with the selector switch 30 slidingback and forth to selectively cover/engage first and second fuel valveassemblies 24, 26—prohibits both valve assemblies from being in the “ON”position at the same time. The selector switch 30 is thus a foolproofdevice that prevents the mixing of fuels so as to provide additionalsafety to the usage of dual fuel generators.

Therefore, according to one embodiment of the invention, a fuel selectorfor use with a dual fuel generator includes a selector plate, a firstfuel valve assembly positioned adjacent the selector plate andactuatable between an ON position and an OFF position to selectivelycontrol a first fuel flow to an engine of the dual fuel generator, and asecond fuel valve assembly positioned adjacent the selector plate andactuatable between an ON position and an OFF position to selectivelycontrol a second fuel flow to the engine of the dual fuel generator. Thefuel selector also includes a selector switch coupled to the selectorplate so as to be linearly translatable from a first position to asecond position, wherein translation of the selector switch between thefirst and second positions enables positioning of only one of the firstfuel valve assembly and the second fuel valve assembly in the ONposition at a given time, such that the first and second fuel valveassemblies cannot be in the ON position concurrently.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a method ofcontrolling fuel flow in a dual fuel generator includes providing afirst fuel valve assembly to control fuel flow from a first fuel sourceto an internal combustion engine of the dual fuel generator, the firstfuel valve assembly including a first fuel valve handle movable betweenan ON position and an OFF position to control fuel flow from the firstfuel source to the internal combustion engine. The method also includesproviding a second fuel valve assembly to control fuel flow from asecond fuel source to the internal combustion engine of the dual fuelgenerator, the second fuel valve assembly including a second fuel valvehandle movable between an ON position and an OFF position to controlfuel flow from the second fuel source to the internal combustion engine.The method further includes providing a fuel selector switch adjacentthe first fuel valve assembly and the second fuel valve assembly suchthat the fuel selector switch is translatable to a first position and asection position, wherein the fuel selector switch is translatablebetween the first position and the section position to selectivelyinhibit actuation of the first fuel valve handle and the second fuelvalve handle, so as to prevent a simultaneous flow of fuels from thefirst and second fuel sources to the internal combustion engine.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, a dual fuelgenerator includes a first fuel source, a second fuel source, and aninternal combustion engine coupled to the first fuel source and thesecond fuel source to selectively receive fuel therefrom. The dual fuelgenerator also includes a fuel selector configured to control a flow offuel from the first and second fuel sources to the internal combustionengine, with the fuel selector comprising a first fuel valve assemblyincluding a first fuel valve and a first fuel valve handle that isactuatable between an open position and a closed position to selectivelyopen and close the first fuel valve, a second fuel valve assemblyincluding a second fuel valve and a second fuel valve handle that isactuatable between an open position and a closed position to selectivelyopen and close the second fuel valve, a selector plate having the firstfuel valve assembly and the second fuel valve assembly coupled to afront side thereof, and a selector switch slideably coupled to theselector plate so as to be movable from a first position to a secondposition. Positioning of the selector switch in the first positioncauses the selector switch to cover the second fuel valve handle so asto prevent the second fuel valve handle from moving to the open positionand positioning of the selector switch in the second position causes theselector switch to cover the first fuel valve handle so as to preventthe first fuel valve handle from moving to the open position.

While the invention has been described in connection with only a limitednumber of embodiments, it should be readily understood that theinvention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, theinvention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations,alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretoforedescribed, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of theinvention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention havebeen described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention mayinclude only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, theinvention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, butis only limited by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fuel selector for use with a dual fuelgenerator, the fuel selector comprising: a first fuel valve having openand closed positions to selectively control a first fuel flow to anengine of the dual fuel generator; a second fuel valve having open andclosed positions to selectively control a second fuel flow to the engineof the dual fuel generator; a first valve handle coupled to the firstfuel valve and actuatable between an ON position and an OFF position toselectively open and close the first fuel valve, respectively; a secondvalve handle coupled to the second fuel valve and actuatable between anON position and an OFF position to selectively open and close the secondfuel valve, respectively; a selector plate positioned adjacent the firstand second valve handles; and a selector switch positioned adjacent thefirst and second fuel valves to allow a user to manually select one ofthe first fuel flow and the second fuel flow; wherein the selectorswitch is coupled to the selector plate so as to be movable from a firstposition to a second position, with movement of the selector switchbetween the first and second positions enabling positioning of only oneof the first valve handle and the second valve handle in the ON positionat a given time.
 2. The fuel selector of claim 1 wherein the selectorswitch comprises: a front surface and a back surface; a groove locatedin the back surface; and wherein the groove engages the first valvehandle to lock it in an OFF position when the selector switch is in thesecond position; and wherein the groove engages the second valve handleto lock it in an OFF position when the selector switch is in the firstposition.
 3. The fuel selector of claim 2 wherein the first and secondvalve handles have a vertical orientation when in the ON position andhave a horizontal orientation when in the OFF position, with the groovebeing able to engage the first and second valve handles when in theirhorizontal orientation.
 4. The fuel selector of claim 3 wherein aninteraction between the groove and the first and second valve handlesprevents translation of the selector switch unless both of the first andsecond valve handles are oriented horizontally in the OFF position. 5.The fuel selector of claim 1 wherein, when the selector switch is in thefirst position, the first fuel valve assembly is actuatable between theON position and the OFF position and the second fuel valve assembly isprohibited from being in the ON position; and wherein, when the selectorswitch is in the second position, the first fuel valve assembly isprohibited from being in the ON position and the second fuel valveassembly is actuatable between the ON position and the OFF position. 6.The fuel selector of claim 1 wherein the first fuel valve assembly isattached to a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) fuel source; and wherein thesecond fuel valve assembly is attached to a gasoline source.
 7. The fuelselector of claim 1 further comprising a carburetor solenoid switchcoupled to the selector plate adjacent and extending out of a frontsurface thereof, the carburetor solenoid switch comprising a depressibleswitch configured to activate an associated solenoid when depressed. 8.The fuel selector of claim 7 wherein when the selector switch is in thefirst position so as to prohibit the second fuel valve assembly frombeing in the ON position, the selector switch depresses the carburetorsolenoid switch, so as to activate the carburetor solenoid and stop theflow of the gasoline fuel source.
 9. A method of controlling fuel flowin a dual fuel generator, the method comprising: providing a first fuelvalve assembly to control fuel flow from a first fuel source to aninternal combustion engine of the dual fuel generator, the first fuelvalve assembly including a first fuel valve handle movable between an ONposition and an OFF position to control fuel flow from the first fuelsource to the internal combustion engine; providing a second fuel valveassembly to control fuel flow from a second fuel source to the internalcombustion engine of the dual fuel generator, the second fuel valveassembly including a second fuel valve handle movable between an ONposition and an OFF position to control fuel flow from the second fuelsource to the internal combustion engine; and providing a fuel selectorswitch adjacent the first fuel valve assembly and the second fuel valveassembly such that the fuel selector switch is translatable to a firstposition and a section position; wherein the fuel selector switch istranslatable between the first position and the section position toselectively inhibit actuation of the first fuel valve handle and thesecond fuel valve handle, so as to prevent a simultaneous flow of fuelsfrom the first and second fuel sources to the internal combustionengine.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein providing the fuel selectorswitch further comprises: positioning a selector plate adjacent thefirst fuel valve assembly and the second fuel valve assembly; andcoupling the fuel selector switch to the selector plate such that thefuel selector switch is slidingly engaged to the selector plate toenable translation thereof to the first position and the sectionposition; wherein translation of the fuel selector switch to the firstposition allows for positioning of the first fuel valve handle in its ONposition and OFF position and prevents positioning of the second fuelvalve handle in its ON position; and wherein translation of the fuelselector switch to the second position allows for positioning of thesecond fuel valve handle in its ON position and OFF position andprevents positioning of the first fuel valve handle in its ON position.11. The method of claim 10 wherein translation of the fuel selectorswitch to the first position positions the fuel selector switch over thesecond fuel valve handle so as to prevent actuation thereof andtranslation of the fuel selector switch to the second position positionsthe fuel selector switch over the first fuel valve handle so as toprevent actuation thereof.
 12. The method of claim 9 wherein the fuelprovided by the first fuel source comprises liquefied petroleum gas(LPG) and the fuel provided by the second fuel source comprisesgasoline, such that the first fuel valve assembly controls the flow ofLPG to the internal combustion engine and the second fuel valve assemblycontrols the flow of gasoline to the internal combustion engine.
 13. Themethod of claim 11 further comprising providing a carburetor solenoidshutoff switch to disable a flow of gasoline from the second fuel sourceto the internal combustion engine, wherein positioning of the fuelselector switch in the first position activates the carburetor solenoidshutoff switch.
 14. A dual fuel generator comprising: a first fuelsource; a second fuel source; an internal combustion engine coupled tothe first fuel source and the second fuel source to selectively receivefuel therefrom; and a fuel selector configured to control a flow of fuelfrom one of the first and second fuel sources to the internal combustionengine, wherein the fuel selector comprises: a first fuel valve assemblyincluding a first fuel valve and a first fuel valve handle, the firstfuel valve handle being actuatable between an open position and a closedposition to selectively open and close the first fuel valve; a secondfuel valve assembly including a second fuel valve and a second fuelvalve handle, the second fuel valve handle being actuatable between anopen position and a closed position to selectively open and close thesecond fuel valve; a selector switch positioned to control actuation ofthe first and second fuel valve handles to selectively open and closethe first and second fuel valves; a selector plate to which the firstfuel valve assembly and the second fuel valve assembly are coupled to afront side thereof, wherein the selector switch slideably coupled to theselector plate so as to be movable from a first position to a secondposition; and a carburetor fuel shutoff solenoid that is activated whenthe selector switch is moved to the second position, when the secondfuel source is being provided to the internal combustion engine; whereinpositioning of the selector switch in the first position causes theselector switch to cover the second fuel valve handle so as to preventthe second fuel valve handle from moving to the open position; andwherein positioning of the selector switch in the second position causesthe selector switch to cover the first fuel valve handle so as toprevent the first fuel valve handle from moving to the open position.15. The dual fuel generator of claim 14 wherein the first fuel source isone of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and gasoline and the second fuelsource is the other of LPG and gasoline.
 16. The dual fuel generator ofclaim 14 wherein the selector switch comprises: a front side and a backside; and a groove located on the back side and configured toselectively engage the first fuel valve handle and the second fuel valvehandle; wherein movement of the first fuel valve handle and the secondfuel valve handle to the open position is prohibited when engaged by thegroove.
 17. The dual fuel generator of claim 14 wherein an interactionbetween the groove and the first and second fuel valve handles preventstranslation of the selector switch unless both of the first and secondvalve handles are in the closed position.
 18. The dual fuel generator ofclaim 14 wherein the first and second valve assemblies are in the openposition when their respective valve handles are positioned verticallyand the first and second valve assemblies are in the closed positionwhen their respective valve handles are positioned horizontally.
 19. Afuel selector for use with a dual fuel generator, the fuel selectorcomprising: a first fuel valve having open and closed positions toselectively control a first fuel flow to an engine of the dual fuelgenerator; a second fuel valve having open and closed positions toselectively control a second fuel flow to the engine of the dual fuelgenerator; a selector switch positioned to control actuation of thefirst and second fuel valves to select one of the first fuel flow andthe second fuel flow; a first valve handle coupled to the first fuelvalve and actuatable between an ON position and an OFF position toselectively open and close the first fuel valve, respectively; a secondvalve handle coupled to the second fuel valve and actuatable between anON position and an OFF position to selectively open and close the secondfuel valve, respectively; and a selector plate positioned adjacent thefirst and second valve handles; wherein the selector switch is coupledto the selector plate so as to be movable from a first position to asecond position, with movement of the selector switch between the firstand second positions enabling positioning of only one of the first valvehandle and the second valve handle in the ON position at a given time.